IPOB Claims It Paid $100,000 Legal Fees To Ozekhome, Ejiofor For Nnamdi Kanu’s Defence

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Thursday disclosed that it paid a total of $100,000 as legal fees to senior lawyer Mike Ozekhome, SAN, and Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor for representing its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, during his trial by the Nigerian government.

Ozekhome and Ejiofor were part of Kanu’s legal team before the IPOB leader later opted to represent himself in court.

The disclosure was made by Madam Nnennaya Anya, Head of the IPOB Finance Directorate, in a statement issued on behalf of the separatist group.

According to the statement titled “Public Clarification on Payment to Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, & Ifeanyi Ejiofor,” the clarification was made in the interest of transparency and accountability, and to dispel speculation surrounding the legal payments.

Anya said the payment was made on the direct instructions of Kanu and transferred to accounts designated by Ozekhome.

“I, Madam Nnennaya Anya, in my capacity as Head of the IPOB Finance Directorate, wish to place on record and clarify for the avoidance of doubt that, acting strictly on the direct instructions of our Supreme Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu (Onyendu), I facilitated the transfer of a total sum of One Hundred Thousand United States Dollars ($100,000) to accounts designated by Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN,” the statement read.

She explained that the payment was made in two instalments — an initial payment of $80,000 and a second instalment of $20,000.

According to her, the funds were specifically meant for legal representation and the defence of Kanu in line with IPOB’s commitment to securing justice for its leader.

“This transaction was duly authorised and executed solely for purposes related to the legal representation and defence of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” Anya said, adding that all records and documentation of the transfer were available within the directorate for verification by relevant IPOB structures if required.

She said the statement was issued to promote transparency and to address any misinformation regarding the matter.

Kanu, the leader of IPOB, has been at the centre of a prolonged legal battle with the Nigerian government over terrorism-related charges linked to the activities of the separatist group in the South-East.

The IPOB leader is currently challenging his conviction on terrorism charges by the Federal High Court in Abuja and has filed an appeal against the ruling. He is serving a life prison sentence at the Sokoto Correctional Centre.

Neither Ozekhome nor Ejiofor had publicly reacted to the claim at the time of filing this report.